Motorola Droid startup teased, obnoxious robot voice and all (video)

None too long after its first headshot was posted did Motorola Droid (a.k.a. Sholes) make a covert encore appearance, only showing off this time the startup process. It provides a bit more evidence — as if we really needed any — that the phone’s bound for Verizon’s network, and any Android customizations, at least from the initial glance, are nothing to write home about. It might be running Eclair, but we really can’t say from this. One thing’s for certain: we’ll be looking for a way to turn off that “Droid” voice from speaking every time we power up the phone. Video after the break.

Continue reading Motorola Droid startup teased, obnoxious robot voice and all (video)

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Motorola Droid startup teased, obnoxious robot voice and all (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World Wide Web creator sorry for the ‘//’ and other things that don’t matter

Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited with creating the World Wide Web, recently said that his only real regret about the whole shebang is forcing people to type out the (essentially unnecessary) double slash after the ‘http:’ in URLs. Speaking at a symposium on the future of technology, he noted (in reference to the dreaded marks) the paper, trees and human labor that could have been spared without them. Hey Tim: don’t sweat it! You’ve done us enough good turns that we’re willing to overlook it.

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World Wide Web creator sorry for the ‘//’ and other things that don’t matter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best iPhone 3G (3GS) alarm clock / radio?

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Bora (from Turkey, he’ll have you know), who is sick and tired of waking up to bleeps, wails and static-filled tunes not on his iPhone.

“I own an iPhone 3G and I’m looking for a decent speaker / alarm clock for it. I am going to listen music in a mid-sized room, so I want nice quality speakers with solid bass. I also want to use it as an alarm clock, so it would be great if there is such a feature. The price can be low-mid to mid-high range. I was looking at the Klipsch iGroove SXT; it’s powerful, slick and the reviews are good, but it doesn’t have an alarm clock feature. It’s no deal breaker if I can set it up from the iPhone, but I’m not sure. Anyway, I’m open to recommendations. Thanks!”

Don’t front — we know a big swath of you loyal iPhone owners out there also have some sort of docking alarm clock / radio, so why not share your experience(s) with yours? It’s easy, we promise.

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Ask Engadget: Best iPhone 3G (3GS) alarm clock / radio? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite renamed Spica, spied and specced in Italy

At long last, some apparently definitive details on Samsung’s i5700, the handset formerly known as Galaxy Lite and now reportedly called the Spica. Italian site Cellularmania has a pretty exhaustive hands-on gallery and a much-coveted list of specs for the lime green HSDPA Android vessel. We’re looking at a 3-inch AMOLED screen with 384 x 240 resolution, a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, 1500 mAh battery, accelerometer, GPS, FM radio… and yes, sad but unsurprising, it’s soft-rocking a 528MHz Qualcomm processor. Unlike our last glimpse, there now seems to be that requisite Android home bottom on the right side of the lower panel, but no such luck for any trackball. We’re also lacking price or release date details for any region, but at least for US enthusiasts, we’re pretty confident that you shouldn’t get your hopes up, given how the i7500 has been relegated stateside.

[Via Slashgear]

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Samsung i5700 Galaxy Lite renamed Spica, spied and specced in Italy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CEIVA Pro 80 digiframe accepts new images from MMS, networked PCs

Timely, no? Exactly a year to the day after the CEIVAlife and CEIVAshare went on sale, the creator of those has decided to out its first digiframe since, and we’ve got to say — the Pro 80 is a refreshing change of pace in the drab digital photo frame world. Aside from accepting images via the traditional means (USB, memory cards and telepathy), this one can also take in new pixels via a cameraphone or computer… wirelessly! The built-in WiFi module enables networked PCs to pass along slideshows, while PicturePlan customers ($6.95 per month) can send photos in from their mobiles. In case that’s not nearly enough to excite you, there’s also free CEIVA Channels (ABC News, ESPN, etc.) to keep you occupied. She’s all yours for $179.99, or $147.99 if you snag it this holiday season.

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CEIVA Pro 80 digiframe accepts new images from MMS, networked PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Stig flies a couple of hybrids

Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius isn't the kind of car you’d expect Top Gear's Stig to drive.

(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)

Prius wheel

The Prius takes to the air.

(Credit:
Top Gear)

In an amusing little photo gallery over at the Top Gear site, the Stig, the famed tame …

Originally posted at The Car Tech blog

Moto Cliq: Best Android implementation yet

Motorola Cliq
(Credit:
CNET)

I know I’m not the only one staring at my clunky T-Mobile G1 right now, willing it to transform into Motorola’s new Cliq. I’ve never been a fan of the G1’s thick slab of chin rest that came as part of Google and HTC’…

Originally posted at Android Atlas

Blockbuster, Amazon OnDemand Available on Samsung HDTVs

Samsung HDTVSelect Samsung HDTV owners can now download widgets for streaming content from Blockbuster On Demand and Amazon Video On Demand services using the Internet@TV feature offered on LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above and LED-backlit HDTVs Series 7000 and above.

The Blockbuster On Demand service, which provides instant access to 7,000 streaming movies, is also available on select Samsung Blu-ray Players and Blu-ray integrated Home Theater Systems after downloading a firmware upgrade. Video On Demand movie rentals are priced from $2.99 to $3.99, and purchases range in price from $7.99 for classic films to $19.99 for new releases. Amazon’s Video On Demand catalog includes over 50,000 movies and TV shows, with over 2,000 in high definition. New releases and “day after” broadcast TV shows are also available in standard and high definition.

Gadgettes 158: The International and Fabulous Episode

In honor of our special guest, Micky Hoogendijk, we cover gadgets with an international flare. You might think that a show as classy as this one might not include any questionable content. You would be wrong.

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EPISODE 158

Giorgio Armani extends designer touch to new mobile

Samsung Blue Earth sees light in Sweden

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/10/lgs-pop-touchsc.php

Dolce Gusto single-cup coffee maker is a beautiful thing

Dyson Fan

Speakers as thin as your TV

Originally posted at Gadgettes, the blog

Robotic ‘mood tail’ is everything you hope it to be, and more


Why hang on to your emotions when you can wag them proudly with a robotic mood tail? Sure, you may never have asked that question yourself, but intrepid DIYer Wei-Chieh Tseng seemingly has, and he’s done something about it. Apparently, the tail makes use of the ever dependable Arduino and an RFID reader to detect different emotion cards that set off varying degrees of tail-wagging, or you can simply control the tail yourself using a Wii nunchuck — because, why not? Did we mention there’s a video? Check it out after the break.

Continue reading Robotic ‘mood tail’ is everything you hope it to be, and more

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Robotic ‘mood tail’ is everything you hope it to be, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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